Mekong Memo Myanmar 20230919

Mekong Memo Myanmar Weekly, September 19, 2023: Business, politics, finance, trade & legal news.

We monitor and filter the very best and most insightful stories from Southeast Asia directly to your inbox every week.

By reviewing a wide variety of media including legal, financial and other relevant industries along with government and NGO sources, we are able to sift through the noise and bring you only what we believe to be relevant to an informed observer of Myanmar business news.

The Memo is published weekdays - Cambodia (every Monday), Myanmar (Tuesday), Laos (Wednesday), Vietnam (Thursday) and Thailand (Friday). The Thailand edition is free in its entirety; the others are headlines-only for non-paid subscribers.

Please navigate to https://www.mekongmemo.com/account and turn on/ off whichever editions you would like to receive.

---

This week’s Mekong Memo is brought to you by our favorite productivity tool:

AudioPen is a voice note recorder that I use in my browser and on my phone to turn thoughts into clear text. It’s free to use, but I’ve paid for a lifetime subscription so I can upload audio files, write in my own style, and record voice notes up to 15 minutes long.

The $150 AudioPen Prime Lifetime deal will be available for purchase only until September 26 (that's when the product turns 6 months old). After that, only an annual recurring subscription will be available (currently $75).

AudioPen is sure to quickly become your number one productivity hack. Get it here:

---

With that said, here is your Mekong Memo Myanmar for the week of September 19, 2023:

Headlines:

New Census Could Be a Trojan Horse for Surveillance

Myanmar-Russia Relations Strengthen Across Multiple Sectors

The Unexpected Alliance: Myanmar and North Korea Reconnect

Myanmar and Russia Sign Memorandum for Election 'Cooperation'

The Global Impact of Myanmar's Frozen Rare Earth Mines

Why China's Cybercrime Crackdown in Myanmar Matters

Myanmar's Media Crackdown is Worse Than You Think

Economic Gains Reversed by Conflict and Pandemic

Myanmar to Accept Russian 'Peace' Bank Cards Amid Financial Crisis

Myanmar is Rolling Out the Welcome Mat for Chinese, Indian and Russian Tourists

Myanmar Modernizes Copyright Law, Extends Protection to Foreign Works

---

New Census Could Be a Trojan Horse for Surveillance

Myanmar's military regime is proceeding with a census despite lacking international support, raising fears that the data will be used to suppress dissidents and escalate conflicts. The United Nations and the United States Census Bureau have denied involvement, contradicting state media claims. Activists warn that the census could serve as a tool for surveillance and legitimize the regime's delayed election, now expected in 2025. The regime is also collecting biometric data, further heightening concerns about the safety of activists and their families.

Read more: Frontier Myanmar

Myanmar-Russia Relations Strengthen Across Multiple Sectors

The relationship between Myanmar's junta and Russia has reached a new peak, with discussions on cooperation in 12 sectors including defense, security, and trade. Both countries are exploring the establishment of Myanmar Consulates General in Russia. The strengthened ties come amid U.S. sanctions on Russia's central bank and suggest a potentially expanding military alliance that could include North Korea. The junta's foreign minister, Than Swe, expressed gratitude for Russia's consistent support, particularly in the United Nations.

Read more: The Irrawaddy